Rudy Gobert is on track to secure his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, but there is controversy surrounding his candidacy, with former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins among those questioning his suitability.
Cousins argues that Gobert does not play a significant role in closing out games for the Timberwolves.
“You can’t have someone potentially winning Defensive Player of the Year four times who doesn’t finish games,” Cousins stated on the Bully Ball.
Gobert has previously won the award in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Despite being the favorite to win this year, Kings forward Domantas Sabonis actually averaged more rebounds per game than Gobert this season.
Additionally, Gobert did not rank in the top five for blocks per game, coming in sixth with an average of 2.1 blocks per game.
Although Minnesota had the best defensive rating in the NBA during the regular season, Gobert’s contributions are being questioned by Cousins.
Cousins believes that Victor Wembanyama, a standout rookie, would be a more deserving recipient of the DPOY award.
Wembanyama led the league in shot blocking and was the only player to average over three blocks per game this season.
Despite the Spurs’ lower defensive ranking and final standings, Cousins feels that Wembanyama’s individual performance stands out.
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